George Mason in the News

Posted: April 28, 2006 at 1:00 am, Last Updated: November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

Following are highlights of national news coverage George Mason received during the past week.

Wednesday, April 19, PBS “Nightly Business Report”

Chinese President Hu Jintao’s Visit to the United States

Ming Wan, associate professor, Public and International Affairs, was interviewed for this segment.

Thursday, April 20, Associated Press

Census, Americans Are Fleeing Big Cities

“Americans are leaving the nation’s big cities in search of cheaper homes and open spaces farther out. Nearly every large metropolitan area had more people move out than move in from 2000 to 2004, with a few exceptions in the South and Southwest, according to a report being released Thursday by the Census Bureau. Richard Florida, a professor of public policy at George Mason University, said smaller, wealthier households are replacing larger families in many big metropolitan areas. That drives up housing prices even as the population shrinks, chasing away even more members of the middle class. ‘Because they are bidding up prices, they are forcing some people out to the exurbs and the fringe,’ Florida said.”

Monday, April 24, Associated Press

Will Gay Marriage Ban Harm Minnesota’s ‘Creative Class?’

“A group of 50 presidents and chief executives of Minnesota-based advertising agencies, public relations firms, graphic design and other multimedia companies sent a letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty urging him to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Richard Florida, a public policy professor at George Mason University, wrote in his book ‘Flight of the Creative Class’ that the Twin Cities metropolitan area has one of the strongest creative economies in the United States. He says the highest-paying jobs migrate to places that have a mix of talent and quality of life. He says tolerance and acceptance are big factors in creating a good quality of life. Florida says other regions should try to emulate the Twin Cities because it ranks high on those categories. He believes amending the constitution to ban same-sex marriage would ruin the state’s recent successes.”

Tuesday, April 25, Associated Press

University Draws Skilled Work Force from Mountain Towns

“George Mason University is letting employees use seven vans to commute from communities as far west as the Shenandoah Valley or as distant as Indian Head, Maryland, to jobs on the school’s main campus in Fairfax. The Washington Post reports that about 55 passengers make the trip each day, with some getting on the road before 3 a.m. to make connections with van pools at park-and-ride lots. The commuting program is used by carpenters, electricians and other skilled workers from small towns who help keep the university running.”

“When oil topped $35 a barrel for the first time just before the Iraq war, economists were sure the nation was in for soaring gas prices and a likely economic downturn. Now that oil costs more than twice that much, economists are just as nervous, and twice as confused. ‘People often underestimate the ability of people to drive less in response to higher prices,’ said Russell Roberts, an economist at George Mason University. If gas reached $5 a gallon, an entire industry would develop aimed at cutting costs and finding new sources of energy that could alter the economy in unforeseen ways, economists said. The oil industry would begin investing in extracting oil from difficult-to-reach places, including parts of Venezuela and off the coast of the United States. And alternative energy sources would become more economical, resulting in more innovation in coal gasification, wind, solar and other fuels that would reduce the need for oil.”

Wednesday, April 26, Houston Chronicle

George Mason’s Larranaga Gets Extension

“George Mason coach Jim Larranaga, who led the surprising Patriots to the Final Four, got a contract extension Wednesday through the 2011-12 season. George Mason’s first NCAA tournament wins came against highly touted Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut in March. The at-large bid Patriots became the first true mid-major team since the 1970s to reach the Final Four, where they lost to eventual national champion Florida. Larranaga is 166-105 in nine seasons with the Patriots, including NCAA tournament appearances in 1999, 2001 and 2006. His previous contract ran through the 2008-09 season.”